Greggs and B&M ramp up AI leadership search

Greggs is currently seeking a leader to translate its AI ambitions into daily operational value. According to Resourcing Manager Kate Rochester, the incoming head will work alongside the IT & Business Change Director to define the company’s AI roadmap and champion the adoption of agentic technology across its store network. This search reflects a wider shift across the retail sector, where major players are no longer treating AI as a niche innovation but as a fundamental requirement for growth.

B&M is following a similar path, with Group IT Director Suzie Williams confirming the retailer is searching for a Head of Data & AI to build a high-performing capability. This follows a wave of high-profile executive appointments across the industry, including Target’s hiring of its first-ever Chief AI Officer, Chandhu Nair, and Sainsbury’s appointment of James Anstruther to lead its AI Centre of Excellence. As retailers integrate these specialized roles, the focus is increasingly shifting toward simplifying store operations and enhancing the customer experience through data-backed decision-making.